Define Hardcore

[SirVenom]

This should be interesting.

People toss around the term "hardcore" without ever defining it. How is it that playing repetitive rehashes of old fighting/shooting/racing games is any more "hardcore" than playing a classic franchise like Mario?

I think it is just a term of superiority, although I personally see in my mind's eye a 40-year-old man living in his mother's basement shouting trash-talk over Xbox Live when I hear the term "hardcore gamer".

So please, define "hardcore gaming".

[SuperSonic]

The fact that this term has no set definition is why it's one of the terms I hate being thrown around so much (along with "fanboy".)

There was a time when playing RPGs and obscure Japanese games made you "hardcore", nowadays it seems to refer to people who play FPS games almost exclusively...

I would disagree with that personally, these people that play nothing but Halo and Call of Duty always make me laugh when they refer to themselves as "hardcore". I mean, given that neither series has a lot of depth and both are really geared towards the mainstream, they're right down there along with minigame compilations of you ask me.

To me, a "hardcore" gamer would be someone that plays a variety of different genres and has a wide knowledge of Gaming in general.

[Darth_1978]

People who use this term don't really understand the meaning. It means to be intensely loyal and also means intensely explicit. WordNet Search - 3.0

So for a game to be hardcore it has to be explicit. And for a gamer to be "hardcore" he has to be loyal to gaming, that means not getting into the petty console wars. In my oppinion a hardcore gamer is one who plays for love of playing. Likes all systems and plays all. So if you refuse to play on the wii as an example then you can't call yourself hardcore.

[SirVenom]

SuperSonic: That is one of the first definitions that I found myself agreeing with, kudos to you.

If hardcore was strictly FPS, then wouldn't that make CoD fans casual and Paintballers the "true" hardcore gamers?

Darth: I also like your thoughts on it. People ignore the Wii's good games because it has a bad image with the "hardcore" base that I described in my original post, and so they miss out on a good gaming experience.

[SonicX580]

To me hardcore means a very knowledgeable player who plays competivtly and who plays alot of multiple genres honestly to me the term hardcore is over used and is a bad steryo type of a person is like defining us as one catagory which is dumb to me.

[Xander]

Hardcore: Someone who loves playing games, even if it's Wii Sports. A person can play Wii Sports and learn all the tricks of the trade and be a master at it while another person can just casually play an FPS a few hours every week.

It's not what kind of game you play, it's how you play each game.

[Folm]

Imo hardcore means not casual, as in Wii Sports. Anyone can pick up Wii Sports and like it, but not just anyone can play TLoZ, those kind of games are for more dedicated gamers.

[Freezing Beast]

Pretty much an opinion question. Usually it is used as a set difficulty and is one of the top if used but it's mainly a challenging game mode that people play to try and improve their skills =P

[Rookie Gus]

Hmmm...as I see it,the term hardcore is tossed very loosely but in my own words it seems to me how dedicated a person is to gaming.Playing simple games that anyone can play casually,in my opinion,is not hardcore but anyone that plays games and find every skill to master and dedicate themselves more should be considered hardcore.Although nowadays,people argue over what games really define hardcore.

[Firestar]

Personally I think it means that you get really into a game or gaming in general, though I like your reasoning Darth: playing just for the fun of it

[Splodey]

Hardcore Games and Hardcore Gamers are two different things.

I classify hardcore games as games that can be played at a competitive level such as Call of Duty, Smash Bros, Halo, Gran Turismo, and even Pokemon. Games like Oblivion, Ratchet and Clank, and Zelda aren't considered to be hardcore games because they focus around single player experiences.

You can be a hardcore gamer by playing any game on the other hand. If you are a world record holder in Wii Sports, you are hardcore. If you're a General on Halo 3, you're a hardcore gamer. If you beat Ninja Gaiden on the hardest difficulty, you're not hardcore, you just have patience. If you're setting speed run records, then you're playing Ninja Gaiden Hardcore. It's all about how you approach a game and play it. If you are able to compete at a competitive level in any game that's considered hardcore.

[Lord Gamington]

I personally think a hardcore gamer is someone that plays competitively. Regardless on the game. As some would have it, they only play competitively in FPS, or maybe RPG. That is what they are Hardcore gaming IN. While others, who don't like Halo or CoD, may on the other hand, collect every one of those blasted stars on Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Galaxy. Which of couse, takes skill, strategy, and patience.
Overall, its all in the persons mind. One person may thing that they are a Hardcore gamer but others may thing that it is something completely different. I will say this tho. No one will argue, that a Hardcore gamer is a great lover of games and that plays them with a passion.

So that's my description of a Hardcore Gamer. A person, who is passionate and aggressive in the type of video game they play. (Passionate and aggressive... >_> <_< )